UN assessment finds nations delaying crucial climate action

Most of the world’s countries have missed a critical deadline to update their climate promises, leaving international efforts to curb global warming dangerously short of what scientists say is needed to avoid catastrophic consequences, a United Nations analysis released on Tuesday has found.

- Jayashree Nandi

Gas emissions rise from a coal-burning power plant in Colstrip, Montana.

Only 64 of 195 parties to the Paris Agreement have updated their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) — the formal climate commitments that underpin international efforts to limit temperature rise. The shortfall is particularly stark among the world’s largest polluters: China and India have yet to formally submit their updates, while doubts loom over whether the US will honour commitments made under the previous administration.

Nevertheless, even the limited submissions, covering just 30% of global emissions in 2019, project that global emissions will fall by around 10% by 2035 —a significant shift in direction but far short of the 57% reduction needed to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.